What happened to alarm chirp sound when locking?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
2018 E400 Wagon
What happened to alarm chirp sound when locking?
Why do more and more models simply use the horn when locking the car? Is the unit that produces the "chirp" sound SO expensive that they nixed it? Does anyone know which current models still feature the "chirp" sound upon locking? When test driving a 2017 E300 before making a decision, I noticed it used the horn as the lock confirmation. I thought maybe when MB first started using the horn instead of the chirp that there was a manufacturing bottleneck on the "chirp" unit but now I just think they're cutting costs.
This may seem like an unnecessary concern, but I feel like locking an E wagon shouldn't sound the same as a truck. Especially considering all BMW/Audi models (from A3 to A8 and 2 series to 7 series) have the same locking/unlocking tones that aren't the horn...
This may seem like an unnecessary concern, but I feel like locking an E wagon shouldn't sound the same as a truck. Especially considering all BMW/Audi models (from A3 to A8 and 2 series to 7 series) have the same locking/unlocking tones that aren't the horn...
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 289
Likes: 59
E220d
Are locking sounds common where you are? In the UK, I can't actually remember the last time I heard a car make a noise when it locks, was never a popular thing here anyway. The central locking on just about every car I've owned is plenty loud enough for me to know it's locked itself.
When I accidently set the horn to sound on locking shortly after getting this one (I managed to do it cleaning the awful black plastic console with COMAND still switched on!), and it went off when I parked the car in a public place, I suddenly felt very sekf conscious and (in best British fashion) apologetic towards those around me that I'd just mildly startled.
So perhaps the reason they use the horn is that not many markets want locking noise hence they build for the lowest common denominator but keep the function by using the horn which is fitted for all (most?) markets.
When I accidently set the horn to sound on locking shortly after getting this one (I managed to do it cleaning the awful black plastic console with COMAND still switched on!), and it went off when I parked the car in a public place, I suddenly felt very sekf conscious and (in best British fashion) apologetic towards those around me that I'd just mildly startled.
So perhaps the reason they use the horn is that not many markets want locking noise hence they build for the lowest common denominator but keep the function by using the horn which is fitted for all (most?) markets.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
2018 E400 Wagon
Are locking sounds common where you are? In the UK, I can't actually remember the last time I heard a car make a noise when it locks, was never a popular thing here anyway. The central locking on just about every car I've owned is plenty loud enough for me to know it's locked itself.
When I accidently set the horn to sound on locking shortly after getting this one (I managed to do it cleaning the awful black plastic console with COMAND still switched on!), and it went off when I parked the car in a public place, I suddenly felt very sekf conscious and (in best British fashion) apologetic towards those around me that I'd just mildly startled.
So perhaps the reason they use the horn is that not many markets want locking noise hence they build for the lowest common denominator but keep the function by using the horn which is fitted for all (most?) markets.
When I accidently set the horn to sound on locking shortly after getting this one (I managed to do it cleaning the awful black plastic console with COMAND still switched on!), and it went off when I parked the car in a public place, I suddenly felt very sekf conscious and (in best British fashion) apologetic towards those around me that I'd just mildly startled.
So perhaps the reason they use the horn is that not many markets want locking noise hence they build for the lowest common denominator but keep the function by using the horn which is fitted for all (most?) markets.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 85
From: San Francisco, CA
2017 E300
My salesman said that they removed the chirp because it was scaring people. I dont know about anyone else, but a honk scares me and makes me instinctively look for something wrong happening. I much prefer the chirp. Since I cant have it, I turned it off and now just look at the side mirrors as well.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
2018 E400 Wagon
My salesman said that they removed the chirp because it was scaring people. I dont know about anyone else, but a honk scares me and makes me instinctively look for something wrong happening. I much prefer the chirp. Since I cant have it, I turned it off and now just look at the side mirrors as well.
